Urology Cancers: All about bladder, kidney, prostate, and Cancer

Active surveillance is a strategy typically used for men with low-risk prostate cancer that appears to be slow-growing. This approach involves closely monitoring the cancer rather than immediately starting aggressive treatments like surgery or radiation therapy. Low-risk cancers are generally defined by a combination of factors, including PSA level, Gleason score (a grading system for prostate cancer), and the cancer stage. The growth rate of prostate cancer varies: some tumors grow very slowly and pose minimal risk, while others can be aggressive and life-threatening. Active surveillance, often equated with watchful waiting, is designed for low-risk, slow-growing cancers. The goal is to prevent the overtreatment of cancers that might not significantly impact a man's lifespan or cause serious health issues, thereby avoiding treatment-related side effects like urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction, which can greatly affect quality of life. Doctors may recommend active surveillance